Motorcycle Backpack

ABSTRACT

A backpack is provided for use by motorcyclists to carry their travel accessories or requirements.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application hereby claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/177,497, filed May 12, 2009, and incorporated herein, by reference.

This patent application also incorporates by reference U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,111 to Lieberman; U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,977 to Krueger et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,705 to Haro.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a backpack and in particular to a backpack for wearing on the back of a person driving a motorcycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Motorcyclists often use a backpack for carrying personal requirements or accessories for a journey. Such backpacks generally consist of a bag with straps wherein the bag is constructed of a flexible textile material. Such backpacks may also be provided with pockets or compartments for carrying specific items such as maps, or with straps for attaching articles to the outside of the bag. Therefore, the use of backpacks, particularly, backpacks for motorcyclists, is known in the prior art, and they are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations. However, items stored in these prior art backpacks cannot be readily seen, and thus located, because the items are enclosed inside the backpack. Therefore, riding with a backpack can be inconvenient and, at worst dangerous, especially when there is a need for the driver, or a passenger who is riding behind the driver/wearer, to access the backpack to remove a desired item from the backpack. Therefore, there is a need for a backpack for use by motorcyclists wherein the passenger sitting behind the driver can see what items are stored therein, and can easily access the items in the backpack without interfering with the driver/wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a backpack is provided for wearing on the back of a person driving a motorcycle. In an embodiment, the backpack can include a backpack body having at least one adjustable shoulder strap extending from the top of the backpack body to a lower part thereof. Also, a main compartment pouch is associated with or part of the backpack body along with a lower pocket disposed beneath the main compartment pouch. The main compartment pouch is adapted to allow access to objects stored therein and has a window for viewing these objects. Furthermore, the lower compartment is adapted to safely receive and store small items such as a cellular telephone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings, like reference numbers designate corresponding parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a backpack in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the sliding fasteners of the backpack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a enlarged side view of the sliding fasteners covered with flap; and,

FIG. 4 is a schematic back elevation view of the backpack of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions of detailed embodiments are for exemplifying the principles and advantages of the inventions. They are not to be taken in any way as limitations on the scope of the inventions.

Turning to FIGS. 1-4, an embodiment of a backpack in accordance with the present invention is depicted. Reference numbers used within FIGS. 1-4 correspond to the following elements:

Reference Number Element 10 Backpack or Vest 12 Inner side of Backpack 14 Body or trunk of Backpack or Vest 20 Shoulder Straps 22 Adjustable means for Shoulder Straps 30 Optional Chest Straps 32 Conventional Clip Fastener for Chest Strap 34 Conventional Adjustable means for Chest Strap 40 Optional Waist Strap 42 Conventional Clip Fastener for Waist Strap 44 Conventional Adjustable means for Waist Strap 50 Main Compartment Pouches or Pockets 51 Windows for viewing objects or items stored within Compartment Pouches 52 Elastic Means for Compartment Pouch 54 Conventional Sliding Fasteners 56 Flap 60 Lower Pockets or Pockets 62 Flaps for Pockets 63 Alternative Zipper 64 Windows for viewing objects or items stored within Lower Pockets 70 Can or bottle holder

In an embodiment in accordance with the present invention, there is shown a backpack 10 (FIG. 1). The backpack 10 has shoulder straps 20 intended to pass over the shoulders and under the arms of the wearer in a conventional manner. To assist in possibly preventing the shoulder straps 20 from slipping off the wearer's shoulders, a chest strap 30 may, but not necessarily, be provided and connected across the shoulder straps 20. The shoulder straps 20 and chest strap 30 can be adjustable for length 22, and the chest strap 30, if available, is formed in two parts that may be connected by a conventional clip fastener 32. The backpack 10 can also be provided, but not necessarily, with a waist strap 40 formed in two parts that may be connected by a conventional clip fastener 42. The waist strap 40 can also be adjustable for length 44.

One or more compartment pouches 50 are associated with or part of the body or trunk 14 of the backpack 10 for carrying small articles such as maps, water bottle(s), or the like items. The compartment pouches 50 preferably comprise leather or a flexible nylon fabric material that is sewed on the backpack and are resistant to the passage of water therethrough between the exterior and interior of the pouches 50 such that water on the exterior of the outer case sheds off of the outer case. The compartment pouches 50 each preferably include an outer window 51 consisting of a conventional transparent flexible material sewn to the leather or flexible nylon fabric material of the pouches to permit viewing of the items within the pouches so that a passenger sitting behind the wearer can see what items are stored in the pouches and readily get access into them, if desired. In an embodiment, the upper portion of these pouches are provided with an elastic closure means 52 so that any items stored in these pockets can be safely stored therein. Alternatively, conventional sliding fasteners 54 (FIG. 2) may be provided to close the pockets such as a zipper or the like. It is also contemplated, in another embodiment, that flaps 56 with hook and loop fasteners can be provided to close over the openings in the top of the compartment pouches 50. Also, if sliding fasteners 54 are used instead, flaps 56 (FIG. 3) may be used to cover the sliding fasteners 54 to inhibit the ingress of rain water to the pouches.

In an embodiment, if only a single compartment pouches 50 is provided, then it is preferred that the pouch and its corresponding window be centered along the vertical axis of the backpack.

The backpack illustrated in FIG. 1, is preferably made of leather or soft kind material, such as canvas, nylon, and the like. The backpack is lightweight, durable, vest-like, and not bulky like the conventional backpacks already known in the art. The inner side 12 of the backpack facing the wearer's back will be shaped to follow the general curvature of the wearer's back so as to prevent any discomfort on the wearer (FIG. 4).

Beneath the compartments or pouches 50 are at least two lower pockets 60, which can be expandable and sized large enough to store small items such as a cell phone, a wallet, a GPS, or the like. The lower pockets are sewn through the backpack and can be made of leather or soft material. It is contemplated that the lower pockets are closed by flaps 62 by utilizing Velcro, buttons, sliding fasteners (i.e., zippers), or any other means necessary to secure the pockets 60. Alternatively, a zipper 63 can be used for closing one or more of the lower pockets. Moreover, the zipper 63 or flap 62 for closing one or more of the lower pockets 60 can be located on the outer side(s) of the pockets. Moreover, one or more of the lower pockets 60 can include an outer window 64 consisting of a conventional transparent flexible material sewn to the leather or flexible nylon fabric material of the lower pocket(s) to permit viewing of the items within the lower pocket(s) 60 so that a passenger sitting behind the wearer can see what items are stored in the pockets and readily get access into them, if desired.

In an embodiment, a can or bottle holder 70 can be detachable coupled to the side of the backpack body or trunk. The can or bottle holder 70 can be made of a mesh fabric or other flexible material and attached to the backpack by hook and loop fasteners (i.e., VELCRO) or other means such as a conventional metal clip that is attached to the holder 70 and received by an aperture in the side of the backpack.

In use, a passenger riding behind the wearer of the backpack 10 on a motorcycle can conveniently access the compartments provided on the backpack 10. Since it is contemplated that the compartments are easily accessible from the person sitting behind the wearer, this eliminates any dangerous elements for the wearer who is maneuvering a motorcycle (not shown).

Preferably, but not necessarily, the pockets 50,60 on the back of the backpack or vest 10 are limited in the volume they can hold such that the vest does not have a lumpy appearance when the pockets 50,60 are filled with various items. For instance, the upper pouches 50 can be limited in volume such that each pouch can perpendicularly expand just enough to accept a folded road map with a water bottle placed over the map. Stated another way, the volume of the upper pouches 50 is limited whereby each pouch can perpendicularly expand from the back of the vest, and thus accept, a plastic water bottle of about three (3) inches in diameter and a road map of about one-half inch in thickness, or less. Likewise, the bottom pockets may be limited in volume so they can expand just enough to accept a cellular telephone. With the volume of the pockets 50,60 being so limited, all or most items stored in the pockets 50,60 should be readily visible through the windows 51,64 associated with each pocket.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are possible examples of implementations merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles for the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention, and protected by the following claims. 

1. A backpack comprising: at least one adjustable shoulder strap extending from a top of the backpack body to a lower part thereof; a main compartment pouch associated with or part of the backpack body and a lower pocket disposed beneath the main compartment pouch, wherein the main compartment pouch being adapted to allow access to objects stored therein and having a window for viewing the objects contained within the main compartment; and the lower compartment being adapted to safely receive and store an item.
 2. The backpack of claim 1 further comprising at least one adjustable chest strap connected to the shoulder strap.
 3. The backpack of claim 1 further comprising at least one adjustable waist strap connected to the lower part of the backpack body.
 4. The backpack of claim 1 further comprising a can or bottle holder coupled to the backpack body.
 5. The backpack of claim 1 further comprising another main compartment pouch provided on the back portion of the backpack and having a window.
 6. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the window is centered along a vertical axis of the backpack.
 7. A backpack comprising: at least one adjustable shoulder strap extending from a top of the backpack body to a lower part thereof; a pair of main compartment pouches associated with or part of the backpack body and at least one lower pocket disposed beneath the pair of main compartment pouches, wherein the main compartment pouches being adapted to allow access to objects stored therein and each main compartment pouch having a window for viewing objects contained within the compartment; and the lower compartments being adapted to safely receive and store an item.
 8. The backpack of claim 7 further comprising at least one adjustable chest strap connected to the shoulder strap.
 9. The backpack of claim 7 further comprising at least one adjustable waist strap connected to the lower part of the backpack body.
 10. The backpack of claim 7 further comprising a can or bottle holder coupled to the backpack body.
 11. A backpack comprising: at least one adjustable shoulder strap extending from a top of the backpack body to a lower part thereof; a main compartment pouch associated with or part of the backpack body and a lower pocket disposed beneath the main compartment pouch, wherein the main compartment pouch being adapted to allow access to objects stored therein and having a window centered along a vertical axis of the backpack for viewing the objects contained within the main compartment; and the lower compartment being adapted to safely receive and store an item.
 12. The backpack of claim 11 further comprising at least one adjustable chest strap connected to the shoulder strap.
 13. The backpack of claim 11 further comprising at least one adjustable waist strap connected to the lower part of the backpack body.
 14. The backpack of claim 11 further comprising a can or bottle holder coupled to the backpack body. 